Transcript

Matthew 4:21-25 · NOBA @ Noon

Canon Justin Murff: The Gospel of Matthew chapter four verse twenty one through twenty five. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebede, and John, his brother, in the boat with Zebede their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him, and he went through all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. This is the gospel of the Lord. Jesus had begun his public ministry and the movement was gathering momentum. Walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus encounters these two brothers James and John, in a boat along with their father Zebede, mending their nets. With the simple authority he had shown with Peter and Andrew, Jesus calls these two brothers. Scripture tells us immediately they left the boat, and their father, and followed him. That word immediately was Arrests us. No negotiation, no request for time to consider, no gradual transition or two-week notice. They left everything, their livelihoods, their family business, their father. And they follow Jesus. Matthew wants us to feel this radical nature of their departure and the faithfulness of their response. The call of Jesus creates a new primary loyalty that supersedes even the deepest of family bonds. I mean, honoring one's father was among the most sacred obligations in their culture. And yet, here not one but two sons are called to walk away from their father and their family and follow the Messiah. Jesus was claiming an authority that transcended even the fifth commandment. Follow him. It meant reordering all other relationships and commitments around this one supreme allegiance to God. Matthew then expands the story. To show the broader scope of Jesus' ministry, and he went all throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. This summary reveals the three dimensions of Jesus' public ministry teaching, preaching, and healing. He ministered to people's minds, their hearts, and their bodies in a dynamic, holistic ministry. Word had begun to spread far beyond Galilee's borders. People came as far north as Syria and Lebanon, bringing those afflicted with various diseases. They came from Jordan with those who had pains and who were oppressed by demons, those with epilepsy, those who were paralyzed, and he healed them all. The variety of conditions mentioned emphasizes the universal scope of Jesus' healing power. No affliction was too big for Jesus to heal. Soon great crowds began to follow Jesus and his followers from Galilee, the Decapolis, the Ten Cities in the northeast, nearby modern day Syria, and Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan, in what is today the modern day country of Jordan. The movement had become regional. People were traveling significant distances just to see this teacher and healer from Nazareth, of all places. Something unprecedented was happening. Jesus' authority was comprehensive and irresistible. His call created immediate, total response in those who truly received it. And his fame spread despite no marketing campaign. The power of his presence spoke for itself. Our text today confronts us with the radical nature of Christian discipleship. Jesus still calls his followers to immediate, unreserved responses. He claims an allegiance that supersedes our desires, our plans, our comforts. What we want doesn't really matter in light of Jesus' plans and his desire and his will. We may not literally leave our jobs or families, but the inner disposition has to be the same. Nothing should compete with our commitment to Christ. This passage reminds us that the gospel addresses the whole person. Jesus didn't separate spiritual and physical needs. His ministry was holistic. As his followers, we are called to care for people comprehensively as well. Not just their souls, but their bodies, not just their beliefs, but their practical needs as well. We see that authentic encounters with Jesus naturally spread. The crowds grew not through great promotion, but through genuine transformation. When Jesus truly touches someone's life, The word gets out. The best evangelism strategy two thousand years later is still a community of people being genuinely changed by an authentic encounter with Jesus. So today, consider your own response to Jesus' call. Is there anything you've been holding back from God? Any area in your life where you immediately may not best describe your obedience to Jesus? What would it look like to follow him with the same unreserved commitment that That James and John displayed. Maybe there's some things you need to bring to Jesus today.